The Cigar Mile Handicap – Grade I
1 Mile Dirt Stake Purse $500.000 Open 3 Year Olds And Up.

1st Blowin Smoke, trained by Grimley
This race was turned upside down by a break neck early pace which none of the leaders could sustain. This very lightly raced five year old running with a feather weight was taken way out the back as the fancied horses cut each others throats, and as all the leaders started to run in glue, he flew home to win by a fairly easy length in the end. There was nothing in his form that suggested he could win a grade one but he had been working very strongly and it seems he just needed things to go his way. Today, for whatever reason, they certainly went his way.

2nd Blue Eight, trained by Grimley
You have to wonder as Grimley got the second horse home too that for some reason the trainer saw this breakneck pace and restrained both his horses. This one was even further back than the eventual winner and just like his stable mate ran past all the tired horses to run a terrific second.

3rd Impending Decision, trained by Night Rider Stable
You know its a crazy pace when the third from the BC Dirt Mile who normally runs on the pace cant go with it. Not as far back as the first two he ran on well but was beaten by his top weight at the end.

4th Superwillie, trained by Ekli Stable
Like all of the first four ran home from the back. This wasnt a bad effort in a strange sort of race.

Footnote:
Whatever made the second favourite Ufc Morals go off at such a suicidal pace certainly set this race up for the closers. Running faster splits than most sprints he took the faourite Spanish petals with him and basically killed both their chances in one hit.

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES